Efficient hiring processes and the impact on school culture

Abstract

This thesis examined how an efficient hiring process can have a positive impact on school culture in an international school in Amsterdam. Through a qualitative, action-based research method incorporating observations, interviews and document analysis it was found that streamlining the recruitment process while including more stakeholders, not only provides a positive candidate experience but equally leads to stronger cultural alignment between the new hires, the teams and the school overall.

The findings reveal key themes, including the necessity for streamlined processes with clear role definitions, the importance of diverse stakeholder participation, the impact of professional development in hiring, and the balance between efficiency and cultural fit. The research highlights that inclusive, transparent, and well-structured hiring processes are crucial for fostering a positive, collaborative, and diverse school culture. More specifically, practices such as relinquishing some control over the hiring process to the subject area coordinators, including teachers in the process, while co-creating predetermined interview questions and rubrics, as well as developing clearer communication channels were shown to support the hiring of better-qualified candidates.

By offering practical recommendations for improvement this research contributes to the academic discourse on efficient hiring and the cultural impacts this can have. Though the scope of the research is limited to the Amsterdam International Community School, the insights provided can serve as a valuable resource for other educational institutions hoping to align their hiring practices with their cultural goals.